US-Iran Second Peace Talks Collapse, Vance’s April 22 Departure Scrapped

Second round of US-Iran peace talks collapses

JD Vance’s departure put on hold

A second round of peace talks between the US and Iran that had been expected in Islamabad on April 22 collapsed.

Iran decided not to attend, and the White House formally shelved Vice President JD Vance’s departure.

A White House official told CNN on April 21 that there would be no departure for Pakistan that day because President Donald Trump was waiting for a “unified proposal” from Iran.

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who had been expected to travel to Pakistan, also remained in Washington.

Trump, writing on Truth Social, said he would extend the ceasefire and blamed Iran for the breakdown in talks.

He criticized the Iranian government as “seriously divided” and said he would hold off on attacks until Iran’s leadership produced a single unified proposal. He added, however, that a maritime blockade targeting Iran would continue and that other military preparations would remain in place.

Iran described the talks as “a waste of time” and “an American show.” Tasnim, Iran’s semi-official news agency, reported that the US had failed to honor the “basic framework of 10 provisions” agreed during the first round of talks.

The recent US seizure by force of the Iranian cargo vessel Tusca appeared to be the decisive reason for Iran’s refusal to attend. Iran called the move a clear violation of the ceasefire and an “act of piracy,” and said it would not take part in talks as long as US hostile actions continued.

Lee Jung-woo, Hankyung.com reporter, krse9059@hankyung.com